Obama Inauguration: President Takes Oath

President Barack Obama has called for national unity after taking his public oath of office on the steps of the US Capitol to mark the beginning of his second term.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators converged on Washington, while millions more tuned in around the world to witness the ceremonial swearing-in, and to listen live as Mr Obama delivered his inaugural address.

US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath as the 44th president placed his hand on two Bibles - one used by President Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration and one used by revered civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr.

After taking the oath, Mr Obama used his speech to call for a divided nation to come together to right the nation's course, following a bitterly partisan election and lame-duck session of Congress.

"Now more than ever we should do this as one nation," he said, adding that Americans are made for this moment and can succeed "so long as we seize it together".

Bibles belonging to Abraham Lincoln and Dr Martin Luther King Jr were used

Mr Obama touched on several issues in his roughly 18-minute speech, laying out an ambitious programme for his coming four years.

The president urged the country to join him in tackling a vast array of problems, from slowing climate change to honouring the dignity of men, women and children around the globe.

Mr Obama said the country must make hard choices to reduce its massive deficit. "But we reject the belief that America must choose between caring for the generation that built this country and investing in the generation that will build its future," he said.

With the ceremonial swearing-in complete, the president and First Lady Michelle Obama took part in a traditional parade before heading out to formal balls where the presidential couple danced for the cameras.

Spectators packed the National Mall in Washington to catch the event

After delivering his inaugural address and listening to patriotic musical selections and a poem written just for the occasion, Mr Obama attempted to savour his final inaugural before walking off the platform.

Turning around to look at the scene on the National Mall, filled with hundreds of thousands of people who braved chilly weather to be part of the ceremony, the president said: "I want to take a look one more time. I'm not going to see this again."

At the ball, Mr Obama paid tribute to America's military, before praising his wife.

"Some may dispute the quality of our president, but nobody disputes the quality of the First Lady," he said.

While Mr Obama was officially sworn in on Sunday, as required by law, the glitter of Inauguration Day still enlivened staid Washington.

The celebration was pushed to Monday because January 20 fell on a Sunday. That placed the grand ceremony on the US holiday marking the birthday of Dr King.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle enjoy the 'first dance' at the ball

The widow of slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers, Myrlie Evers-Williams, delivered the invocation prior to Mr Obama taking the oath.

Vice President Joe Biden also took the ceremonial oath to kick off his second term as Mr Obama's number two.

Former US presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were among the dignitaries seated on the Capitol steps for the event.

Mr Clinton and Mr Carter are the only living Democrats who have occupied the White House. Mr Clinton was accompanied by his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is departing as Mr Obama's second term gets under way.

In addition to the key political figures on hand, several celebrities, including Jay-Z and Beyonce, were in attendance to give the inaugural a red carpet atmosphere. 

As he enters his second term, Americans increasingly see Mr Obama as a strong leader, according to a survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

The survey shows him with a 52% job approval rating - among the highest rankings since early in his presidency. His personal favourable rating, 59%, has rebounded from a low of 50% in the 2012 campaign against Republican Mitt Romney.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Israel's Extremist Right Set For Cabinet Posts

By Tom Rayner, Middle East News Editor, Jerusalem

Israelis go to the polls today in an election that could have a devastating impact on hopes for a future peace deal with the Palestinians.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is predicted to win the most seats, opinion polls have suggested support for his Likud Beitenu party has been steadily eroded by a surge in the popularity of smaller right wing parties.

Analysts have observed that a weak performance by his party at the ballot box could leave Mr Netanyahu having to accept demands from more extremist groups in order to form a coalition government.

Last Friday the publication of the final opinion polls before the vote showed the overall bloc of Israel's right-wing and religious parties winning a slim parliamentary majority of 63 out of 120 seats.

In the course of the campaign, the man who has generated more headlines than any other is Naftali Bennett - leader of the hard-line Jewish Home party.

Naftali Bennett heads the Jewish Home party

The party has surged in the polls. Six months ago they were predicted to win just two seats. Now they are expected to win as many as 15.

Running on a platform of outright refusal to countenance land deals with the Palestinians or the creation of a Palestinian state, the growing strength of Jewish Home is indicative of a general shift to the right among the Israeli electorate.

If the polls are right Mr Bennett is likely to end up being given a senior role in Mr Netanyahu's next cabinet.

Mr Bennett, who once served as Chief of Staff to Mr Netanyahu, is a multi-millionaire businessman and a former major in the Israeli army.

He also led the main organisation representing Jewish settlers in the built-up West Bank outposts, which have been deemed illegal under international law.

Speaking to Sky's Middle East Correspondent Sam Kiley in Jerusalem, Mr Bennett explained why he would rather opt for continuation of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories than discuss a peace deal.

He said, "Establishing a Palestinian State within the land of Israel would spell eternal war, bloodshed and sorrow between us and our neighbours.

"We've had it in Gaza and look what happened - we handed over 100% of the land to the Arabs and days after they started shooting thousands of rockets at us."

In recent years these kinds of arguments were the preserve of the hard-line minority, but the fact Mr Bennett has emerged as a potential king-maker in the election suggests such views are becoming increasingly mainstream.

Such negative attitudes towards the potential for a renewal of peace talks between the two parties have a become a major concern for many western diplomats, including those from Britain, as well as more left wing candidates in Israel.

Yaakov Peri, a former head of Israel's internal intelligence agency the Shin Bet, is standing as a candidate for the Yesh Atid - a centre-left party led by a well-known former television journalist.

He told Sky News the shift to the right, and the absence of any unity among the left wing and centrist bloc spelt trouble for the future stability of the region.

"I think it's a disaster. It's a disaster from all aspects you can imagine," he said.

Officials in the Palestinian Authority will also be watching the results carefully.

In anonymous briefings there have already been suggestions that the election of a right-wing government will prompt an attempt by the Palestinians to use their new UN non-observer status to push claims of Israeli war crimes at the International Criminal Court.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Obese Drivers More Likely To Die In Crashes

Obese drivers are more likely to die in car crashes because their seat belts do not tighten as quickly, a new study has found.

They are thrust further forward due to their extra soft tissue which prevents the belt from tightening immediately against the pelvis.

Scientists say they believe car design may now have to change to protect overweight drivers.

Analysis of US collision data found those who were most overweight - in the World Health Organisation obesity category III (a BMI above 40) - were 80% more likely to die in an accident than drivers of a healthy weight.

Those in category II (a BMI between 35 and 39.99) were 51% more likely to be killed in a crash, while the risk was even lower for those in category I (a BMI beween 30 and 34.99), at 21%.

When broken down by gender, obese women were found to be at greater risk than men.

Those in obesity category III were almost twice as likely to die on the road than their male counterparts, the scientists said.

The authors, from the University of California and the University of West Virginia, published their findings in the Emergency Medicine Journal.

Their analysis of more than 3,403 pairs of drivers also showed underweight men were more likely to die in a collision than motorists of a healthy weight.

The authors said: "Findings from this study suggest that obese vehicle drivers are more likely to die from traffic collision-related injuries than non-obese occupants involved in the same collision.

"Obese cadavers had significantly more forward movement away from the vehicle seat before the seat belt engaged the pelvis owing to additional soft tissue that prevents the belt from fitting close to the pelvis when the cadavers were in the driving position.

"The additional forward motion by cadavers was seen for the abdomen and lower extremities."

But they said obese drivers may be more likely to have underlying health problems which could put them at higher risk in a road accident.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

US Shooting: Teen Suspect Speaks To Police

The teenager accused of shooting dead his parents and three younger siblings at their New Mexico home has reportedly told authorities he was "annoyed" with his mother.

A probable cause statement said Nehemiah Griego had been having homicidal and suicidal thoughts before allegedly killing his family with an assault weapon.

The 15-year-old remains in custody on charges of murder and child abuse resulting in death following the shootings on Saturday night in the rural area southwest of Albuquerque.

A Bernalillo County sheriff's detective questioned the teenager and details of their conversation were spelled out in the statement.

Griego allegedly told the detective he took a .22 caliber rifle from his parents' cupboard and shot his mother in the head while his younger brother slept next to her.

The suspect told the detective his brother did not believe their mother was dead so he showed him her bloody face and then shot him, according to the statement.

He is accused of then shooting his two young sisters in their room before taking an AR-15 rifle from his parents' cupboard and waiting in a downstairs bathroom for his father to come home.

Police described the crime scene at the home as 'horrific'

The statement said he shot his father multiple times after he passed the bathroom doorway.

The teen said he reloaded the guns so "he could drive to a populated area to murder more people", according to the statement.

It said his plan was to "shoot people at random and eventually be killed while exchanging gunfire with law enforcement".

Asked if he had told anyone else about murdering his family, Griego allegedly told the detective that he had taken a picture of his dead mother and sent it to his girlfriend.

Police in New Mexico have been collecting evidence from the home and Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said: "There's no other way to say it, except that we have a horrific crime scene down there that we are working on."              

The victims were identified as Greg Griego, 51, his wife Sarah Griego, 40, and three of their children: a nine-year-old boy, Zephania Griego, and daughters Jael Griego, five, and Angelina Griego, two.

All appeared to have gunshot wounds to the head.

Greg Griego was a pastor and was also well-known throughout the law enforcement community for his work as a voluntary chaplain.

It comes after President Obama announced plans to ban assault weapons, following a massacre that left 28 dead in Newtown, Connecticut - also committed using an AR-15 rifle.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bali: Death Penalty For British Drug Smuggler

British woman Lindsay Sandiford has been sentenced to death for drug smuggling on the Indonesian island of Bali.

The 56-year-old grandmother, originally from Redcar, Teesside, had been found guilty of violating the country's strict drug laws.

Sandiford was arrested in May 2012 at Bali airport when customs officers found 3.8kg of cocaine worth £1.6m in her luggage. She claimed she had been forced to smuggle the drugs into Bali from Thailand by a criminal gang.

Prosecutors announced in December that they would be recommending a 15-year prison sentence, after she agreed to co-operate in a sting operation in which police swooped on four other suspects alleged to be her accomplices, including Britons Rachel Dougall, Julian Pounder and Paul Beales. 

Sandiford is consoled by her sister Hilary Parsons after being sentenced

Pounder is accused of receiving the drugs in Bali, where cocaine and ecstasy are often bought and sold between foreign nationals. A verdict is expected in his trial on Wednesday.

Delivering Sandiford's verdict, a judge panel headed by Mr Amser Simanjuntak said that Sandiford had damaged the image of Bali as a tourism destination and weakened the government's programme of drug annihilation.

Composed: Sandiford rose to her feet during her sentencing

"We find Lindsay Sandiford convincingly and legally guilty of importing narcotics. We found no reason to lighten her sentence," said Mr Simanjuntak.

In her witness statement, Sandiford said: "I would like to begin by apologising to the Republic of Indonesia and the Indonesian people for my involvement.

"I would never have become involved in something like this but the lives of my children were in danger and I felt I had to protect them."

Local journalist Amelia Rose was in court when Sandiford was sentenced.

"She was in shock, but she managed to hold her composure and stand up while the judge read out her sentence," she said.

"Her eyes turned red from tears for a second but she managed to hold her composure again.

"There is still a long way to go before an execution can take place. She can appeal to the High Court then the Supreme Court in Jakarta. If she can present new evidence she can have a judicial review.

Tears: the grandmother looked shocked as the verdict was read out

"Then there is also the chance of clemency with the President."

Sandiford's defence lawyer, Esra Karo-Karo, said: "She was very shocked. This is unpredicted, she never thought of receiving the death penalty.

"The judge did not even consider our reason for leniency as we proposed in our defence. We will appeal."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We can confirm that a British national is facing the death penalty in Indonesia.

Caught: Sandiford was paraded in front of journalists after she was charged

"We remain in close contact with that national and continue to provide consular assistance and the UK remains strongly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances.

"We will intervene at whatever stage and level is judged appropriate and will use high-level political lobbying when necessary".

Dougall, whose young daughter is reportedly being cared for by their maid and gardener on the island, has claimed she was the victim of a "fit-up".

Reprieve, a charity which seeks to enforce human rights for prisoners, said Sandiford was targeted by drug traffickers.

Happier times: Sandiford in her forties

Spokeswoman Harriet McCulloch said: "Lindsay was targeted by drug traffickers who exploited her vulnerability and made threats against her children.

"Following her arrest, she was interrogated by the Indonesian police without a translator, legal representation or the assistance of the British Embassy for 10 days.

A statement by Dr Jennifer Fleetwood, an expert on the coercion of women in the international drug trade, was also read out, which suggested that Sandiford's "vulnerability" would have made her an ideal target for drugs traffickers. 

"There is evidence to suggest that a trafficker would seek someone who was vulnerable. Having reviewed extracts from Lindsay's medical records I know that Lindsay has a history of mental health issues.

"This may have unfortunately made her an attractive target for threats, manipulation and coercion by one or more parties over a period of time, which led to her being stopped at Ngurah Rai International Airport".      

Co-accused: Paul Beales (L), Rachell Dougall and Julian Ponder

At the end of 2011 there were 13 British nationals sentenced to death and awaiting execution, and approximately 40 British prisoners facing charges that may attract the death penalty.

Indonesia has 114 prisoners on death row, according to a March 2012 study by Australia's Lowy Institute for International Policy. Five foreigners have been executed since 1998, all for drug crimes, according to the institute.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has granted clemency to four drug offenders on death row since he took office in 2004.     

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

HIV: Scientists Hopeful Over Resistant Cells

By Thomas Moore, Health and Science Correspondent

Scientists have genetically engineered key cells in the immune system to resist infection by HIV.

US researchers used molecular scissors to cut and paste HIV-resistance genes into T cells, the specialised immune cells that are targeted by the Aids virus.

The genetic editing prevented HIV from entering the cells and then going on to destroy the immune system, according to the study published in the journal Molecular Therapy.

Sara Sawyer, an assistant professor at the University of Texas-Austin said: "Providing an infected person with resistant T cells would not cure their viral infection.

"However, it would provide them with a protected set of T cells that would ward off the immune collapse that typically gives rise to Aids."

The work was done in a laboratory and clinical trials would be needed to confirm that gene therapy was safe and effective in patients.

But the researchers warn that they don't yet have enough control over the molecular scissors to guarantee they cut the genetic material in the same place every time.

If they caused a break elsewhere, the technique could result in cancer.

Nevertheless, the scientists hope to start clinical trials within three to five years.

If the technique is successful, it could save patients from life-long dependence on antiretroviral drugs, which can have side effects.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pile-Up Involving 86 Vehicles Leaves Girl Dead

An 86 vehicle pile-up outside Cincinatti has left a 12-year-old girl dead and several others injured.

The child survived the initial crash on Monday morning and got out of a damaged car to stand on the motorway central reservation next to a cable barrier.

But another vehicle hit the fence, snapping one of the twisted steel ropes, which then struck the girl and killed her, the Hamilton County sheriff's office said.

At least 20 other people were taken to hospital, though their injuries were not expected to be life-threatening.

As many as 86 vehicles were caught up in the pile-up on I-275

The crash on Interstate 275 near the Cincinnati suburb of Colerain Township was one of at least four pile-ups that snared dozens of vehicles in Ohio.

The road was shut down for hours to clear the wreckage strewn across it.

"It was just chaos, absolute chaos," Lieutenant Tory Smith told The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Heavy lifting gear was needed to clear the road

The sheriff's office said the crash remained under investigation, but suggested poor weather and low visibility was a factor.

Snow had been accumulating on the road, and there were reports of ice.

As many as 50 vehicles were involved in another pileup on I-75, between Middletown and Monroe, in southwest Ohio.

Luke Stevens, of Van Wert, was in a vehicle at the front of that pile-up.

Four pile-ups were reported across Ohio

"It was complete ice all over the highway," he said.

Four trucks and about 20 cars were involved in an afternoon pile-up on I-71 near Mansfield and a multi-vehicle crash near Columbus temporarily closed the I-270.

Nobody was seriously injured in the later crashes.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Russian Citizens Flee Conflict In Syria

By Katie Stallard, Moscow Correspondent

Russia has insisted it is not evacuating its citizens from Syria, even as two planes left Moscow to begin an airlift of around 100 people from the country.

The aircraft will land in Beirut in neighbouring Lebanon - to where those who wish to leave are believed to be travelling the 70 miles by road.

Syria's international airport in Damascus has come under attack in recent weeks causing several airlines to halt flights.

But officials in Moscow have insisted this is not the start of a mass evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria.

A Russian diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AFP news agency: "There are thousands of Russian citizens in Syria. The issue is that the Russian airline is no longer flying to Damascus, so we are helping some 100, maximum 150 people to leave Syria via Beirut, which is very close.

"We are simply helping people who have gone to the Russian consulate in Damascus requesting assistance."

Russia suspended consular operations in Syria's largest city Aleppo last week after a bombing at its university killed 80 people, but its consulate in the capital Damascus remains open.

A rally supporting the Syrian regime in front of the US Embassy in Moscow

The diplomat was adamant: "This is not an evacuation. There is no pressure at all on Russians in Syria to leave the country because there are many areas in Damascus which are completely safe and free from violence and clashes."

He conceded, however, that this airlift would not be the last to help Russians leave the country.

"It will be an ongoing operation. Whenever enough people request assistance at the consulate in Damascus, we will organise for new planes."

The number set to leave in this operation is a small proportion of the estimated 5,300 Russian citizens registered with authorities in Syria, with the total number thought to be much higher.

Russia's foreign ministry has previously said that contingency plans were being made for a large-scale evacuation, should it become necessary, which would likely include its naval maintenance and supply facility at the Syrian port of Tartous.

A group of five ships including two assault ships, a tanker and an escort vessel have been dispatched from their Baltic Sea port to the Mediterranean, putting them within reach of Syria.

Moscow has also begun high profile naval exercises in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, including off Syria's coast, in what have been described as the largest naval exercises since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Some analysts believe the exercises are a cover for the preparation of a mass evacuation from Syria.

A woman walks past a destroyed home in Azaz city

Sergei Markov, a political analyst and former politician with President Vladimir Putin's party, told Sky News: "I think that the naval exercises are not so much preparation to defend Bashar Assad's regime, but in preparation for creating security for Russian citizens who are in Syria."

At least eight warships from Russia's Northern, Baltic and Black Sea fleets are taking part in the manoeuvres, according to Russian news agencies.

Mr Markov, who is now vice-president of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, explained: "Russia doesn't want to send a signal to everyone that the Russian government believes Bashar Assad won't stay in power, but at the same time the Russian government has to pay attention to the security of all citizens so this is a compromise.

"For Moscow it looks like if Bashar Assad will lose power it will not lead to stability, on the contrary it will lead to civil war - everybody against everybody, almost like what is happening in Libya right now and happened in Lebanon 30 years ago, so Russia would need to evacuate its citizens."

Russia's deputy foreign minister Mikhail Bogdanov was quoted last month as having said that "a victory of the Syrian opposition cannot be ruled out". However, the ministry later insisted that Mr Bogdanov was speaking in a personal capacity and Russia had not changed its position on Syria.

Moscow remains opposed to any form of military intervention from the international community, which it fears could be used as cover for regime change.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Canadian Man Kills Two In Philippine Court

A Canadian man has shot dead two men and injured another while appearing in a Philippine courtroom charged with illegal possession of firearms, according to police.

John Pope, 66, pulled out a gun and fired at the complainant and prosecuting lawyer in his case minutes before the hearing began in Cebu city.

Pope quickly fled the court and was shot in the arm by police after ignoring orders to surrender, said regional police director Marcelo Garbo.

According to the National Bureau of Investigation, Pope also shot himself in the head after falling to the floor and later died in hospital.

Another lawyer, who was shot by Pope while fleeing the court, is reported to be in critical condition in hospital.

It is currently unclear how Pope was able to get a gun into the court building; however, Prosecutor General Claro Arellano said that there had been a "serious lapse in security" in the court premises and has asked the Philippine Supreme Court to investigate.

It is believed that the complainant who was shot in the court was a doctor who had accused Pope, his neighbour, of threatening him and other residents in their apartment complex with a gun in 2011.

At that time, Pope was quoted as saying that he was carrying the gun for self-defence.

Pope was also facing charges of "malicious mischief and grave threats".

The shooting follows recent calls for tighter gun control in the Philippines after a man shot and killed eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, near Manila two weeks ago.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Murder-Suicide At Las Vegas Cop's Home

A Las Vegas police officer, his wife and son are dead after an apparent double murder, suicide and arson at their home, authorities said.

Officials did not immediately identify the police officer or the family members, but the home is known to be owned by Hans Walters, a lieutenant with 20 years service in the Metropolitan department.

"There was an incident today (Monday) involving one of Metro's lieutenants," Clark County Sheriff Douglas Gillespie said.

"Several bodies were discovered."

The sheriff said the investigation in Boulder City, about 20 miles southeast of Las Vegas, was being handled by police in neighbouring Henderson.

Police there said a man called 911 at about 8.20 am on Monday and told a dispatcher that he had killed his wife and child, set his house on fire and would shoot anyone who approached.

Officers arrived to find the homeowner with a handgun in the doorway of the burning house, before he retreated inside and apparently killed himself.

No shots were fired by police or SWAT officers. 

The bodies of a 52-year-old man, a 46-year-old woman and a boy were found inside later.

Hans Walters was married to another former Las Vegas police officer, Kathryn Walters.

Officials said the boy was believed to be about seven.

23.12 | 0 komentar | Read More